If there’s one city with no shortage of world-class dining options, it’s London, England. This monster of a city has thousands of restaurants of every type of budget and cuisine that diners could dream of. Here’s our list of our favorite restaurants in London right now, which offers everything from searing hot Latin flavors to London’s original lobster noodles, smoky South African comfort food to a new, radical concept of a “Kitchen Without Borders.”

Sucre is drop dead gorgeous with grand chandeliers made of glass bottles and wall-to-wall gilded mirrors. Despite the ornate, elegant setting, there’s still something laidback and effortless about Sucre. The circular booths are comfy and the chairs are upholstered colorful tribal designs. It’s possible to relax and mingle, as the unassuming ambience encourages freely socializing.

The food is a love letter to the South American immigrant journey, with extra love to Argentinian food culture. To start off, Sucre serves the tastiest empanada you’ll sink your teeth into. The fluffy pillow of soft dough is filled with hot melty cheese, chilli and the happy sweetness of caramelized onion. There are tasty snacks like the stuffed gordal olives with aji, fresh stone bass tostadas with sesame and avocado and shaved courgette salad with sliced almonds and lemon. Of course, it wouldn’t be an Argentinian restaurant without some prime carnivorous options. You can rip into a perfectly cooked Striploin or Bone-In Ribeye that’s smothered in chimichurri and served with a side of crisp French fries. For dessert, be sure not to miss the out-of-this-world Dulce de Leche fondant with mascarpone and hazelnut. The warm, gooey dulce de leche lava will surely change your life.

For a rich, elegant meal that’s seasoned with vibrant South American flair, Sucre is an excellent choice. For a more quick and casual option, check out Alma by Sucre, the new cocktail bar which just opened downstairs from the restaurant which serves artisan cocktails and tasty Argentinian bar snacks.

Do not skimp on the pita and zahter, because you definitely want the pita. Zahter’s pita is beautifully crisp with charred dough bubbles on the outside and soft and chewy on the inside. Pair that with the cold fava mezze, which might be the most orgasmic dip you’ve ever had in your life. The whipped fava bean dip is so creamy and so rich in flavor, topped with dill, green chili peppers and spring onion dressing, which is what gives it that special kick. There’s also the fresh, colorful heirloom Domates (tomatoes) served with creamy mint yogurt suzme, almonds and a hearty dollop of olive oil. And of course, you can’t leave without trying the smoked aubergine with chili jam, fried garlic, pomegranate, almonds and a bed of fresh parsley. Basically, you really can’t go wrong with any of the cold mezzes.

Hot mezzes include rich, delectable bites like the Bosnak beef dumplings with garlic yogurt and burnt butter, hearty wood fire potatoes with gremolata and boregi cheese rolls with three types of cheeses. The larger platters are shareable and feature Turkish classics like lamb and beef kofte with pistachio and tahini yogurt.

With the most central location on Carnaby Street and the most mouthwatering mezzes in town, Zahter is a must stop for anyone craving elevated Turkish cuisine.

First of all, entering a former pub into the instantly welcoming space is everything. The style is low-key and effortless, which is a huge part of its appeal. Faded brick walls, dark wood tables and comfy velvet booths make you feel like you’re dining at an old friend’s place rather than a restaurant. The place fills up extremely quick for dinner with the lively, rambunctious chatter of happy patrons before you know it.

The food at Kudu Grill is all about beautifully grilled dishes with colorful, smoky flavors. Locally sourced products are cooked over an open-fire, reminiscent of South African barbeques and the owners’ roots. The grilled prawns with smoky sweet peri peri butter served with a creamy labneh epitomizes Kudu Grill’s artistically layered yet comforting dishes. Their signature snack is the kalahari spiced biltong, a spicy and salty cured meat from South Africa with the texture of beef jerky. Hot sizzling mains include thick roasted aubergine drizzled in sweet pepper crème and sunflower dukkah. As well as tender, juicy poussin (young chicken) seasoned with tarragon, celeriac and granny smith apple. And definitely don’t forget to try at least two or three of the irresistible sides. The crispy charred gem salad with a sweet, umami sesame dressing might be the tastiest thing on the menu and will have you licking your lips for more. Other delectable sides include roasted sweetporn with pumpkin seed and curry mayo and grilled grezzina courgettes with dill.

Whenever you want a delicious, soulful meal in a warm intimate setting, hop on down to Peckham as Kudu Grill is always the right choice.

At Mandarin Kitchen, you can get an entire lobster with a portion of noodles for around 60 pounds. It’s honestly a steal, considering how much lobster you’re getting and how much meat falls off the shell. The lobster is prepared Chinese-style: smothered in salty garlic scallion sauce on top of a large helping of chewy noodles. The lobster is generous and meaty. With the saucy noodles to slurp them down, it’s the gift that keeps on giving. You can get the noodles

Other than the star Lobster Noodles, Mandarin Kitchen has an extensive menu of can’t-go-wrong Chinese dishes for the whole family. You can dig into stuffed crab claws, steamed scallops with garlic soya sauce, Cantonese roast duck and more. You can bet that the entire restaurant is full of happy slurping and chowing on delicious family-style Chinese food at every table at Mandarin Kitchen.

Chef Bhogal’s multicultural background as an Indian born in Kenya and brought up in London inspires her borderless and endlessly creative menu. You never know what you’ll find on the menu in Jikoni. But you can be sure that Chef Bhogal will take you on a journey across the globe and feed you something you’ve never tried before. Jikoni’s menu covers everything from Indian, East Asian, East African and British influences.

For mains, you’ll get to choose from a truly eclectic selection of East African Kuku Paka curried chicken with Indian influences, Kimchi Mac & Cheese with gochujang, Sticky Garlic Rice with Sichuan caramel and crispy aubergine and lemongrass turmeric Congee with Orkney scallops. Jikoni also goes hard on creative small bites and snacks. The most popular dish is the Cereal Killer Prawns fried in crispy porridge oats. And good luck choosing from the snack list which includes Dal and Cheddar Croquetas, Prawn Toast Scotch Egg with banana ketchup and Chickpea Chips with tomato chutney.

At Jikoni, you can travel the world and discover the most eclectic mix of international food cultures right from Chef Bhogal’s pretty dining room in Marylebone. Chef Bhogal’s beautifully radical philosophy of Borderless Kitchen is a wonder to behold and offers an infinitely imaginative dining experience you won’t find anywhere else.

Imad’s Syrian Kitchen sits on the second floor of the bustling food hall of Kingly Court in Soho. Once you enter the restaurant and break from the crowds outside, you’ll find yourself inside a warm, welcoming dining room which feels like the home of a close family friend. Framed family photos and vintage photos of Damascus line the clean white walls. There’s an open wall where you can see a slice of the kitchen and the chefs at work. The space is tight and cozy which adds an extra layer of familiarity.

For those who haven’t been exposed to Syrian food, it feels familiar as it features Middle Eastern staples such as falafel, za’atar salad and hummus. Except at Imad’s Syrian Kitchen, these classics have more texture and more subtle savory flavors layered in. The varied menu has lots of shareable items consisting of lots of vegetarian starters and then heavier meat entrees.

The Baba Ghanoj might be some of the best you’ll ever try, as the aubergine and tahini are super creamy then drizzled with molasses and pomegranate. The Fattoush salad is crisp and crunchy and the Zahraa Harra baked cauliflower is smoky and satisfying with red peppers, crispy garlic and tahini sauce. For meat eaters, you can dig into spice roasted lamb shank served with roasted peppers, rice and gravy or minced lamb koftas in tomato sauce.

The eclectic drink menu is just as gorgeous as the food. Both the cocktails and non-alcoholic drinks are packed with fragrant fruits and herbs such as the likes of mint, apricot and pomegranate. Tingle your tastebuds with an Aleppo Spritz made with mango and apricot puree infused with safflower or a Damascus Iced Tea which mixes hibiscus tea with pomegranate molasses and agave. The cocktails get extra creative with sumac infused vodka for the Syrian Cosmopolitan or the Pistachio Gin Sour.

Imad’s Syrian Kitchen offers profoundly unique gastronomy and more importantly, a story. Go and taste the amazing flavors and resilience of Syrian cuisine at Imad’s Syrian Kitchen at Kingly Court in Soho!

Hoppers keeps it top-notch but still casual, opting for a laidback canteen-style setting with long communal benches and round metal trays to eat off of. Of course, you have to try at least one or all of the hoppers, which are the crispy, savory Sri Lankan crepes which the entire franchise is named after. Get the Egg Hopper which a runny egg in the middle or one with cheese, both of which are perfect for mopping up curries. You really can’t go wrong with any of the curries, or karis, at Hoppers. All of them are super rich, fragrant and packed with flavor. Our must-tries include the Black Pork Kari which possesses a smoky, savory aftertaste and the Lamb Kari which consists of the softest lamb chunks ever.

If you have a hard time deciding what to order from the widely varying, delectable menu, you can always opt for the Taste of Hoppers tasting menu, which for just 42 pounds per person, comes with a fabulous array of snacks, rotis, dosas, sambols and your choice of kari.

Don’t miss the Sri Lankan restaurant sensation that is Hoppers whenever you’re in London. With a highly accessible price point and fantastic cuisine you won’t find anywhere outside of Sri Lanka, Hoppers will get you hooked on its uber fragrant, delectable dishes.

Colonel Saab is an homage to restauranteur, Roop Partap Choudhary’s, parents. Choudary’s father, Colonel Manbeer, journeyed extensively throughout India in the 1970s and 80s with his wife, Binny Choudhary. Both Colonel Manbeer and Binny were lovers of art, food and culture. On their travels, they collected a huge collection of eclectic artworks and crafts that represented India’s rich heritage. This priceless collection of vintage plates, carpets, paintings and antiques adorns every inch of Colonel Saab, making it one of the most beautiful dining rooms in the city.

Colonel Saab’s menu is also a deep exploration of India’s regional dishes, many of which you won’t find on other Indian menus in London. You can get a perfectly cooked Southern Indian Nadan Meen fish curry or the Andhra style Gutti Vankaya curry with aubergine and tamarind gravy, also from the south. Other unique Indian dishes include Falahari Curry Kofta with lotus stem and Cauliflower Confit with cardamom saffron sauce. To round out the menu, there are also familiar comforts like Colonel Saab’s Butter Chicken and classic street food Dahi Sev Puri.

With elevated Indian food in a beautiful artistic setting, Colonel Saab offers a unique dining experience that appeals to all the senses. Check out the all-day restaurant in Holborn to experience Indian cuisine and culture like nowhere else.